• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
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  • 引用文献
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    • 专利摘要:
    This invention relates to a dual-side vision inspection system, and a method for on-line identification and/or determination of quality characteristics, of meat products, carried on conveyors.
    公开号:DK201901038A1
    申请号:DKP201901038
    申请日:2019-09-02
    公开日:2021-04-16
    发明作者:Toftelund Madsen Niels；Ryding Ole
    申请人:Teknologisk Inst；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    DK 2019 01038 A1 ON-LINE DETERMINATION OF QUALITY CHARACTERISTICSOF MEAT PRODUCTS
    TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a dual-side vision inspection system, and a method for on- line identification and/or determination of quality characteristics, of meat products, carried On CONVeyors.
    BACKGROUND ART In the meat processing industry, meat products of various types are transported on conveyor belts while being monitored, on the fly, for various characteristics, e.g. product identification, quality inspection, or the presence of foreign objects. For performing such operations, manual inspection has gradually been displaced by newer approaches such as automated, imaging technologies.
    In order to obtain reliable results, vision-based detection processes should be based on an analysis of the largest possible surface of the meat products in question. Therefore, measures for exposing a larger part of the meat surfaces to such recordings have been taken.
    Thus, WO 9521375 describes a method for on-line determination of quality characteristics of pieces of meat, using a vision detection device placed over a conveyor belt further down-stream, for recording images of meat piece that has been turned around, so that the side which was hidden from the camera of the first arrangement is now facing the camera of the second arrangement.
    WO 2010046366 describes an alternative method for on-line determination of quality characteristics of meat products, according to which method a first image is obtained, while the product is being transported on a first conveyor, followed by releasing the meat products from this first conveyor, thereby inducing rotating the products during moving and falling, and resulting in turning said products substantially 180°, catching said parts on a second conveyor, and passing said second conveyor row alongside a second camera system for obtaining second turn images.
    WO 0058035 describes a system for the sorting of light-weight articles that also involves the use of a vision device. This system provides an enclosed system that stabilizes the light-weight articles as they are projected in-air from the discharge end of a conveyor belt.
    However, the on-line determination system and method described herein has not been disclosed.
    1
    DK 2019 01038 A1
    SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a dual-side vision inspection system and a method for on- line identification and/or determination of quality characteristics, of meat products, carried On CONVeyors.
    According to the method of the invention, images are taken from (at least) two sides, using one or more upper side camera(s) and one or more lower side camera(s), both (all) directed towards meat products while they are airborne, being projected from one conveyor belt to another. In such an arrangement, the aim is to measure on the largest possible meat surface.
    The larger the visual coverage of surface, the better the quality determination. The method in accordance with the invention is resulting in missing substantially less meat surface portions when inspected, thus giving far more reliable processing.
    Therefore, in its first aspect, the invention provides a system for on-line inspection of meat products (16), which system comprises: a) a first (2) and a second (3) conveyor, in a relative combination with each other creating an inter-space (7), suited for obtaining images of meat pieces (16) while these meat pieces are passing over from, or falling down from the discharge end of the first conveyor (2) onto the second conveyor (3); and b) a machine vision system, executed on a processing means (10), comprising one or more upper (5) and one or more lower (6) camera(s), each camera capable of obtaining images of the falling meat pieces (16).
    In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for dual-side, on-line inspection of meat products (16), which method comprises the subsequent steps of: a. supplying the meat products (16) on a first, in-let conveyor belt (2); b. un-loading said meat products (16) by dropping the meat products from the discharge end of said first conveyor (2), thus falling down through an inter-space, measurement window (7), and down onto a second conveyor belt (3); c. subjecting the meat products (16) to recordings by a dual-side machine vision system (1), while the meat products are leaving the discharge end of the first conveyor (2) and falling down through an inter-space, measurement window (7), and down onto a second conveyor belt (3); and d. disposal of meat pieces (16) or parts of meat pieces with deviating characteristics, as determined by the dual-side machine vision system (1).
    Other objects of the invention will be apparent to the person skilled in the art from reading the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 2
    DK 2019 01038 A1 Any combination of two or more of the embodiments described herein is considered within the scope of the present invention.
    DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a dual-side vision inspection system and a method for on- line identification, and/or determination of quality characteristics, of meat products, carried On CONVeyors.
    The system of the invention In its first aspect, the invention provides a dual-side vision inspection system (1) for on-line inspection of meat products, i.e. while on the fly, and is being transported by a conveyor.
    Inspections contemplated according to the invention may include identification of products (product ID), determination of quality characteristics, the presence of foreign objects in meat products, etc.
    The dual-side vision inspection system of the invention may be characterized by comprising the following essential elements: a) a first (inlet) conveyor (2) and a second (transport, carry-on or follow-up) conveyor (3), in a relative combination with each other, forming an inter-space, measurement window (7), suited for obtaining images of meat pieces (16) while these meat pieces are passing over from, or falling down from the discharge end of the first conveyor (2) onto the second (carry-on) conveyor (3); and b) a machine vision system, executed on a processing means (10), comprising at least one upper (5) and at least one lower (6) camera, each camera capable of obtaining images of meat pieces (16) falling down from the discharge end of the first conveyor (2) onto the second conveyor (3), and into the inter-space, measurement window (7).
    The first and the second conveyor shall be positioned in a mutual combination that forms an inter-space, measurement window (7), suited for obtaining images of the falling meat objects (16) from opposite sides/angles.
    In combination, the upper (5) and lower (6) cameras are able to obtain images of the falling meat products from opposite sides/angles, while the meat pieces (16) are ejected from the discharge end of the inlet conveyor (1) and falling down onto the second conveyor (3), thus passing through the inter-space, measurement window (7).
    The conveyor belts (2, 3) may be placed in varying heights relative to each other, thereby creating inter-space, measurement windows (7) of various sizes, as indicated by the dotted lines (7) in Figs. 1a and 1b, and the cameras may directed 3
    DK 2019 01038 A1 towards this measurement window from different angles, e.g. from an almost vertical direction to an almost horizontal direction, as indicated by the dotted lines (11) in Figs. la and 1b.
    The machine vision system The inspection system of the invention makes use of a machine vision system, executed on a processing means (10). Machine vision represents a combination of hardware and software capable of providing operational guidance to other devices, based on the capture and processing of images, and usually rely on digital sensors protected inside industrial cameras, with specialised optics to acquire images, so that computer hardware and software can process, analyse and measure various characteristics for decision making.
    The machine vision system for use according to the invention preferably is based on multi-spectral imaging.
    A multi-spectral camera is one that captures image data within specific wavelength ranges across the electromagnetic spectrum. The wavelengths may be separated by filters, or by use of instruments that are sensitive to particular wavelengths, including light from frequencies beyond the visible light range, such as infrared and ultra- violet. Spectral imaging can allow extraction of information that the human eye fails to capture with its receptors for red, green and blue (RGB). Multi-spectral images thus may include RGB (visible/colour images) and RGB/IR (visible/colour images combined with infra reed images).
    Multi-spectral imaging measures light in a small number (typically 3 to 15) of spectral bands.
    Multi-spectral imaging can also be accomplished by using camera(s) sensitive to all the relevant spectral bands, and sequentially illuminating the object with each spectral band, while capturing a frame for each band.
    Machine vision systems essentially comes in three main categories: 1D vision analyses a digital signal one line at a time, instead of looking at a whole picture at once, and is accomplished by use of a line-scanner; 2D vision is looking at the whole picture, and may be accomplished by use of an industrial camera; and 3D vision systems typically comprise multiple cameras or one or more laser displacement sensors.
    In one embodiment, the machine vision system for use according to this invention involves the use of a 1D vision device, i.e. a line-scan camera.
    In another embodiment, the upper camera (5) and upper light source (8) for use according to the invention, are supplied with vision equipment in the form of a 4
    DK 2019 01038 A1 DynaCQ™ equipment (5x), commercially available from Danish Technological Institute, Denmark. Vision processing Processing is the mechanism for extracting information from a digital image and may take place externally in a PC-based system, or internally in a standalone vision system. Processing is performed by machine vision software and may consist of several steps. First, an image is acquired from the sensor. Next, the software locates the specific features, runs measurements, and compares these to the specification. Finally, a decision is made, and the results are communicated.
    Machine vision software, supporting a wide range of operating systems and providing interfaces to a variety of industrial cameras and frame grabbers, are commercially available from various distributors.
    Processing means For performing the necessary operations, the system of the invention must comprise a processing means (10), capable of processing the machine vision. The processing means for use according to the invention shall be in communication with, and receive inputs from, said upper (5) and lower (6) cameras, and shall be in communication with said first (2) and second (3) conveyor and be able to provide guidance to said conveyors. The light source The meat products (16) to be analysed according to the invention is illuminated from the top and the bottom with diode light (LED light), that emits light adjusted to the frequencies that the cameras are able to see.
    The machine vision system for use according to the invention may comprise a light source capable of emitting electromagnetic waves in the ranges of from about 350 nm to about 1700 nm to (i.e. from UV to shortwave-infrared regions), and a sensor capable of receiving electromagnetic waves within the same ranges. Scraping tools Another aspect related to the handling of meat products, is soiling of the machinery. Meat products often have humid or liquid film layers on their surface, that will stick to the supporting belt surface, and contaminate equipment located within a certain distance, including any cameras.
    In order to allow the cameras to function properly according to the invention, it is recommended to mount scraping tools (12) underneath the conveyors, intended to 5
    DK 2019 01038 A1 ensure that the lower camera (6) can be in action without being smeared with meat and juice from the above inlet conveyor (2). The scraping tool of the invention is preferably mounted underneath the conveyor, i.e. just after the edge when the belt start running backwards, after the meat products (16) have been unloaded the inlet conveyor (2).
    The scraper (12) for use according to the invention may also secure that no meat products, accidentally sticking hard to the belt surface, are brought backwards with the conveyor belt, but is safely delivered from the first conveyor (2) to the second conveyor (3).
    Vibration separators For securing maximum exposure of the surface of the meat products (16), an even distribution of the incoming meat products should be sought. This may be accomplished by use of a vibration separator (13), placed on the process line immediately before the first (inlet) conveyor (2).
    Therefore, in another embodiment, the system of the invention further comprises a vibration separator (13), located on-line, before said first (inlet) conveyor (2).
    The method of the invention In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for performing dual-side inspection of meat products, i.e. while on the fly, and being transported by a conveyor.
    The method of the invention may include inspection of meat products, e.g. for determination of product ID, determination of quality characteristics, the presence of foreign objects, etc.
    The method of the invention for dual-side inspection of meat products may be characterised by comprising the subsequent steps of: a. supplying the meat products (16) on a first, in-let conveyor belt (2); b. un-loading said meat products (16) by passing these meat products over from, or dropping the meat products from the discharge end of said first conveyor (2), thus passing over, or falling down through an inter-space, measurement window (7), and down onto a second conveyor belt (3); c. subjecting the meat products (16) to recordings by a dual-side machine vision system (1), while the meat products are leaving the discharge end of the first conveyor (2) and falling down through an inter-space, measurement window (7), and down onto a second conveyor belt (3); and d. disposal of meat pieces (16) or parts of meat pieces with deviating characteristics, as determined by the dual-side machine vision system (1).
    6
    DK 2019 01038 A1 In the method of the invention, the first in-let conveyor belt (2), conveying the products to the discharge end of this first conveyor, according to step a, and the second conveyor belt (3), receiving the falling meat products (16), according to step b, are positioned in a relative combination with each other, thereby creating an inter-space (7), suited for obtaining images of passing or falling meat pieces (16).
    The machine vision system for use in step c according to the method of the invention is a dual-side machine vision system (1), executed on a processing means (10), comprising at least one upper (5) and at least one lower (6) camera, each camera capable of obtaining one or more images of meat pieces (16) falling down from the discharge end of the first conveyor (2) onto the second conveyor (3), and into the inter- space, measurement window (7).
    Parts or pieces of meat products with deviating characteristics, as determined by the dual-side machine vision system (1), may be removed, e.g. by bringing the conveyor belts (2 and 3) to a halt, or, alternatively, by running the conveyor belt (3) backwards, so that the deviating object may be carried to a waste bin located underneath the inter- space, measurement window (7), or the products with deviating characteristics may be removed by a grabbing tool, e.g. a grabbing tool mounted on a robot or robotic arm, and/or a robot or robotic arm mounted with a suction device.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is further illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figs. 1a and 1b shows two alternative system installations (1) according to the invention, wherein (2) represents the inlet conveyor, (3) represents the outlet conveyor, the arrow (4) represents the direction of transportation of the conveyed meat products (16), (5) represents a an upper camera, (6) represents a lower camera, the dotted line (7) represents location of the measurement window, (8) represents an upper light source, (9) represents a lower light source, and the dotted line (11) indicates possible (alternative) camera/light positioning angles; Fig. 2 shows part of a system according (1) to the invention, wherein (2) represents the inlet conveyor, (3) represents the outlet conveyor, (6x) represents a lower camera (6) combined with one or more lower light sources (9), and the dotted line (7) represents location of the measurement window; Fig. 3 shows an alternative system installation according to the invention, wherein (2) represents the inlet conveyor, (3) represents the outlet conveyor, (5x) represents the upper camera (5) combined with one or more upper light sources (8), (6x) represents a 7
    DK 2019 01038 A1 lower camera (6) combined with one or more lower light sources (9), and (15) represents an operator; Fig. 4 shows an alternative system installation according to the invention, wherein (2) represents the inlet conveyor, (3) represents the outlet conveyor, (5x) represents the upper camera (5) combined with one or more upper light sources (8), (6x) represents a lower camera (6) combined with one or more lower light sources (9), (13) represents a commodity supply belt, (14) represents a vibration separator system, and (15) represents operators; and Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of a scraping tool (12) mounted at the discharge end of the infeed conveyor belt (2). List of reference signs In the figures, identical structures, elements or parts that appear in more than one figure are generally labelled with the same numeral in all the figures in which they appear.
    1. Dual-side vision inspection system of the invention
    2. First conveyor/inlet conveyor
    3. Second conveyor/transport, carry-on or follow-up conveyor 4, Direction of transportation
    5. Upper camera(s) 5x. Upper camera + light(s)
    6. Lower camera(s) 6x. Lower camera + light(s)
    7. Inter-space, measurement window
    8. Upper light source(s)
    9. Lower light source(s)
    10. Processing means
    11. Camera/light positioning angles
    12. Scraping tool
    13. Commodity supply belt
    14. Vibration separator system
    15. Operator
    16. Meat product 8
    权利要求:
    Claims (7)
    [1] 1. A system (1) for on-line, dual-side vision inspection of meat products, which system comprises: a) a first (2) and a second (3) conveyor, in combination with each other creating an inter-space (7), suited for obtaining images of meat pieces (16) passing over, or falling down from the discharge end of the first conveyor (2) onto the second conveyor (3); and b) a machine vision system, executed on a processing means (10), comprising one or more upper (5) and one or more lower (6) cameras, each camera capable of obtaining images of said falling meat pieces (16).
    [2] 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the machine vision system is a multi-spectral imaging system.
    [3] 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more upper or lower cameras are line-scan cameras.
    [4] 4, The system according to any one of claims 1-3, which system further comprises a scraping tool (12), mounted at the end of the discharge end of the inlet conveyor (2).
    [5] 5, The system according to any one of claims 1-4, which system further comprises a vibration separator (13), located on-line, before said first conveyor (2).
    [6] 6. A method for dual-side, on-line inspection of meat products (16), which method comprises the subsequent steps of: a. Supplying the meat products (16) on a first, in-let conveyor belt (2); b. un-loading said meat products (16) by passing these meat products over from, or dropping the meat products from the discharge end of said first conveyor (2), thus passing over, or falling down through an inter-space, measurement window (7), and down onto a second conveyor belt (3); c. subjecting the meat products (16) to recordings by a dual-side machine vision system (1), while the meat products are leaving the discharge end of the first conveyor (2) and falling down through an inter-space, measurement window (7), and down onto a second conveyor belt (3); and d. disposal of meat pieces (16) or parts of meat pieces with deviating characteristics, as determined by the dual-side machine vision system (1). 1
    DK 2019 01038 A1
    [7] 7. Use of the system according to any one of claims 1-5, in the method according to claim 6. 2
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    DK180440B1|2021-04-23|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    法律状态:
    2021-04-16| PAT| Application published|Effective date: 20210303 |
    2021-04-23| PME| Patent granted|Effective date: 20210423 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    DKPA201901038A|DK180440B1|2019-09-02|2019-09-02|On-line determination of quality characteristics of meat products|DKPA201901038A| DK180440B1|2019-09-02|2019-09-02|On-line determination of quality characteristics of meat products|
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